Social Security Q & A- I paid the maximum amount of Social

I paid the maximum amount of Social Security taxes for many years and retired early. Then I took part-time employment and I am now earning much less. How will this affect my Social Security benefit at age 62 and at full retirement age?

First, if you begin receiving Social Security benefits at age 62, the earliest possible age for receiving retirement benefits, your benefit amount will be lower than if you had waited until full retirement age. Second, because of the years when you worked part-time and had low earnings, your benefit amount may be lower than if you had continued in your previous job paying the maximum. Your benefit payment is based on how much you earned during your working career. Higher lifetime earnings result in higher benefits.

For more information, call Social Security at the Social Security Administration’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to ask for Your Retirement Benefit: How It Is Figured (Publication No. 05-10070). Or you can go to the Social Security Administration’s website to find this and other publications.